"I heard you, Arisu, haven't been getting along very well with that Katsuragi guy recently?"
Amane's words made Sakayanagi Arisu feel a little helpless.
Good news doesn't travel far, bad news spreads like wildfire, that's probably it.
It was clearly an internal Class A matter, yet it ended up becoming almost common knowledge among the first-years.
Now, she didn't even know how many people were constantly observing Class A's movements from the shadows, after all, as the leader of the first-years, any slight movement in Class A would directly or indirectly affect the other classes.
"There is such a thing, but with my abilities, I can handle Katsuragi."
Sakayanagi Arisu was full of confidence that she could defeat Katsuragi Kohei. She firmly believed that with just the right timing, she could make Katsuragi fall from his current leadership position into the dust.
Amane didn't refute.
Although she wasn't clear about Katsuragi Kohei's strength, she had a very clear understanding of Sakayanagi Arisu's strength.
Once pushed to the brink, abandoning her moral bottom line, that's when Sakayanagi Arisu would truly display her terrifying power.
However, it seemed she herself felt that she should always remain composed no matter what crisis, which was why she lost the initiative in this class infighting.
"But I heard the situation is very unfavorable for you right now?"
As soon as Amane finished speaking, Sakayanagi Arisu rolled her eyes at Amane.
"Are you here to see me make a fool of myself? If so, Amane, you're going to be disappointed. I'm just temporarily biding my time. Once the right opportunity arises, I can easily change the current situation."
Amane blinked.
Translated, didn't that just mean she was waiting for a favorable moment?
It seemed Class A was indeed different from Class D.
In Class D, as long as there was a way to earn points for Class D, their class status and influence would increase accordingly, making them strong contenders for class leader.
But in Class A, those honor students were already accustomed to the natural growth of class points. Only a sudden surge in class points might cause Class A students to react.
And a sudden surge in class points, in Amane's opinion, was unrealistic; at least, no one could achieve a sudden surge in class points right now.
Besides that, wanting to expand one's influence in Class A was almost as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Coupled with encountering Katsuragi Kohei, who was cautious, adhered to a defensive class strategy, and did not interfere too much with other classes' affairs, the difficulty was undoubtedly greatly increased. It was possible that Sakayanagi Arisu would face her first failure in Class A.
"Amane, you didn't come here just to see my awkward state of being at a disadvantage in the class leadership struggle, did you?"
Sakayanagi Arisu took a small sip of coffee.
She didn't believe Amane was such a boring person.
Amane must have another purpose for being here.
"Of course not, I'm here to help you defeat Katsuragi Kohei."
Amane's words made Sakayanagi Arisu freeze.
Defeat Katsuragi Kohei?
Sakayanagi Arisu had absolute confidence in defeating Katsuragi Kohei.
But she knew it definitely wasn't now. Now was when Katsuragi Kohei was at his peak. Even with Amane's help, unless violence was used, Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't see any chance of winning.
"Do you have some special method?"
Although she felt it was unrealistic, Sakayanagi Arisu still wanted to hear what Amane had to say, after all, she had absolute trust in Amane.
"What you and Katsuragi Kohei lack is nothing more than prestige and influence over the class. In a peaceful environment, no matter how outstanding your ability, you have no room to display it. Katsuragi can easily suppress you with peaceful tactics, but what if you can prove you have the ability to surpass other class leaders?"
Amane's suggestion was seen through by Sakayanagi Arisu at a glance.
She had also considered such a method, but the risk was too great. Without clear information about each other, trying to crush a class with the people she had was truly difficult.
For example, Class B, led by Ichinose, was even called an impenetrable defense because of its excessive unity.
She had made Ryuuen suffer defeat multiple times.
Sakayanagi Arisu had no intention of rushing into trouble.
"Are you making such a suggestion to drag Class A into this? I've heard some rumors that are not very friendly towards Class D."
Sakayanagi Arisu said, hinting at something.
She learned from her own channels that Class B and Class C had secretly joined forces, causing Class B's testimony in the Ishizaki Incident to change. Without a doubt, Class D had been backstabbed by its allies.
If Class D lost this gamble, Amane would go from being a Good Samaritan to committing intentional harm. In that case, even Amane would face the risk of expulsion.
Sakayanagi Arisu was well aware that if Amane was truly to be expelled, her father probably wouldn't intervene.
Amane's decision to bring Class A into the fray to break the current deadlock, her feelings and thoughts, Sakayanagi Arisu could understand them all.
However, class affairs were not child's play, and irrational choices could not be made because of personal friendships.
"What if I told you... I could let you severely damage Class B?"
Amane confidently uttered words that sounded like a fantasy.
For a moment, Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to see the girl who once played chess alone in the snow... "What do you need me to provide?"
"Help. My manpower is insufficient. To complete my plan, I need more helpers, such as your subordinates, and Arisu herself."
Amane's opening statement immediately shocked Sakayanagi Arisu.
"You're not planning to use violence, are you?"
Asking for so many people at once, Sakayanagi Arisu was a bit uneasy. If victory was achieved through violence, her standing in Class A might not only fail to rise but could even decline due to public criticism from the Katsuragi faction, led by Katsuragi.
"I'm not that foolish. The more meticulously planned an action, the easier it is to leave flaws in inconspicuous corners. By grasping a corner of a flaw, the entire chessboard can be easily overturned."
Amane said, standing up excitedly, looking completely like a passionate idiot.
"Then have you found Class B's flaw, or do you want evidence?"
Sakayanagi Arisu chose to give Amane an excuse to persuade her, even if it was just a fabricated excuse and reason.
She could blindly trust Amane, but she also needed to give those willing to follow her a reasonable explanation. As long as Amane said she had evidence, she could use that to promote the possibility of victory in this move, thereby persuading those people to assist Amane.
"No."
Amane's answer left Sakayanagi Arisu speechless.
This idiot, she wouldn't even give her an excuse?
Did she really have to make a choice without any basis?
Silence spread through the room for a moment.
After a long while.
The two, harboring their respective ambitions, looked at each other simultaneously.
"Can I trust you?"
"Can I trust you?"
Amane and Sakayanagi Arisu, hearing each other ask the same question in unison, both laughed.
"I never thought I'd have a day working with an idiot like you."
Sakayanagi Arisu admitted that she indeed needed external help to reverse her disadvantage in Class A, and even needed Amane to help her defeat Katsuragi and become the de facto leader of Class A.
"Don't worry, I will tip the scales of victory."
Amane, on the other hand, had already begun to lay out the final plan.
The necessary people and items were basically in place.
But the most crucial link was still missing.
That was someone who could quickly help Amane pinpoint targets.
Some evidence could not be obtained as a student.
With teachers not participating in class struggles, there was only one place left that could access students' private backgrounds and obtain the most direct evidence.
That was — the Student Council.
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